Bargain buys anxiety management
Managing anxiety over your finances can mean shopping sensibly, but it doesn’t have to be boring or drab. Managing money worries and your wardrobe can end up being fun.
I was thrilled the other day. I bought an absolute bargain. I felt fantastic, and far better than if I’d bought the same item at full price.
I wanted some new clothes for work. I work with clients who are expensively dressed and I know that it does matter how I look. However, I can’t see the sense in spending so much money on clothes, if I don’t need to.
What bargain did I get? I bought a brand new, red jacket by Anthea Crawford, (a much sought after and expensive Australian designer), for seven dollars fifty. Yes, seven dollars fifty.
How did I know it was brand new? It still had the spare button attached in a plastic envelope underneath the armpit, and all the labels on it.
What I also enjoyed was finding that there was a sale on in the shop. Everything was reduced by 50%. This new jacket had been reduced from a whopping $15.00 to $7.50! Normally, however, it would retail for around $400, yes four hundred. Now you can see why I was rapt.
It was my favourite colour of red and my size. Brilliant! Where did I find this bargain? It was hanging in the Good Samaritans Op Shop in the city centre. Op shops can be fantastic places to shop. You're helping others every time you buy, and you’re restocking your wardrobe and spending so little. Goodbye anxiety over money.
Why go and spend $400 if you can get the identical jacket for $7.50? By the way, while I was there I bought a brand new turquoise jacket for only $3.50. It was also a designer make. And I bought a nice summer blouse, again for $3.50 and a halter neck top in my favourite blue.
Altogether, four new items, all fabulous for $19.00. I felt great. My wardrobe looks good. And I kept my money spending to the minimum.
When you are anxious over money and you must buy some new clothes, go and find the best op shops and buy the best bargains. If money is in short supply then why buy expensive clothes? It makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Instead buy bargains. Your money will go much further.
My absolute best bargain was in the op shop in Karratha in North Western Australia. Karratha is a mining town and people come and go. When they go it can be easier for them to leave their clothes and belongings at the local op shop than take them all with them. So it can be a great place to shop if you're visiting the town.
What did I buy? It was a brand new black leather handbag, made by Sachi, another designer. It only cost me a dollar. One whole dollar. It's a fantastic handbag and ideal for work, and I needed a new one.
Watch out for the "designer clothes" op shops. They can still charge you a fortune. Find the cheap op shops. They can still have good clothes in them. Whether it’s the Lifeline shops, the Salvation Army or the Good Samaritans, you'll discover who has the best quality clothes. Hang out there from time to time and you'll feel rich.
Become a bargain buyer and anxiety over money can diminish. But only buy bargains IF you really need them. Don't just buy something because it's supposed to be a bargain. If you don't need it, no matter how cheap something is, it's NOT a bargain.
Do not throw your money away on something that is "dramatically reduced" or has a "two for the price of one" special on it. If you didn't need the first item, having two of the same items for the same price is not a bargain. It's a waste of money.
Only when you truly, really, deeply need something buy it. Otherwise, save your money. In this way anxiety management over money can become easier.
Do you really need to buy anything other than food right now? If you do, buy a bargain.
Where will you shop?
Editor
Reader Comments (3)
I think this is fine for managing anxiety because I know I’ve not wasted too much money and sometimes I even like what I’ve bought!
I’d rather spend $10 on something and risk not liking it than spend $100 and not like it!
Michele